Vacancies

Wanna join our team?

Education Assistant

We are looking for an assistant to join our office team in the education department, starting in November! If you would like to live in our community for three months, this opportunity is for you.

The education department is mainly in charge of preparing educational offers for external visitors (schools, students...) in line with Sunseed's values of environmental sustainability. It is also in charge of offering educational activities to both staff and volunteers that make up our community.

Responsibilities

6 hours/day (weekends off)

Assist the person currently coordinating the Education department.

Desirable skills and qualifications

Enthusiasm

Experience in this role

Experience of community life

Spanish/English

A compensation of €150 for travel expenses is offered upon leaving the project.

To apply, please contact Ashley through email education@sunseed.org.uk

Appropriate Technology Coordinator

The Appropriate Technology department coordinates the maintenance and improvement of community infrastructure, technologies and services at Sunseed. The two key areas are sun and water: renewable electricity generation and consumption, solar water heating, and solar cookers, water service provision, maintenance of the ram pump & waste water system, and overseeing of the water distribution system of Los Molinos del Rio Aguas.

The coordinator supervises volunteers in choosing and carrying out project work and may run research of his/her interest. Collaboration with other departments to correspond to the needs of the community and find possible solutions is a vital part that Appropriate Technology plays in the project.

The coordinator’s role is a volunteer position with a starting compensation of 150 euros per month and a minimum commitment of 9 months.

Core Responsibilities

Ensure electricity generation and overview consumption

Water service provision

Maintenance of ram pump and distribution system (shared with Eco-Maintenance)

Maintenance & improvement of waste water system (shared with Eco-Maintenance)

Maintenance & improvement of solar water heating

Maintaining and encouraging the use of the solar cookers at Sunseed

Overseeing the appropriate technology tools

Guiding & mentoring volunteers & interns

Sorting, acquiring and storing AT materials

Ensuring safety related to the use of AT equipement

Planning and monitoring a departmental budget

Requirements

Background in engineering, mechanics or technology

Design skills of low technology solutions

Experience in some of the following: off-grid electronics and electricity : photovoltaic panels, small wind turbines, batteries. Basic solar water heating, common plumbing systems, working with manual and power tools.

Optional experience in: woodworking, arduino-based systems/ microelectronics, programming, solar devices such as solar cookers, solar dryers

Teaching and demonstrative skills

Planning and direction of projects

Ability and interest in working with upcycled materials

Interest in Appropriate Technology, its importance in the world and its role in the development of a sustainable lifestyle

Desirable Skills

Ability to speak Spanish

Experience in community living

To apply, please email Ashley at communication@sunseed.org.uk and fill out our application form here

Administration Assistant

We are looking for a person in the role of assistant to join our office team in the administration department, starting in November! If you would like to live in our community for a minimum of three months, this opportunity is for you.

The administration department is mainly responsible for managing the accounting and financing of the project. It is also in charge of preparing documents such as invoices, receipts... and managing everything to do with the legal aspects of the project.

Responsibilities

6 hours/day (weekends off)

Assist the person currently coordinating the Administration department.

Desirable skills and requirements

Enthusiasm for the work

Demonstrable experience and skills in managing spreadsheets with Google Sheets to automate accounting processes and financial reviews

Experience in community life

Spanish/English

A compensation of €150 is offered for travel expenses reimbursable at the time of departure.

To apply, please contact Xavier through email admin.coordinator@sunseed.org.uk

Eco-Maintenance coordinator

Sunseed is a non-formal education project for the transition to sustainability. We are totally off-grid and are committed to teaching visitors how to live a low-impact lifestyle in harmony with nature.

In keeping with our philosophy, we recycle and reuse materials wherever possible and make the most of locally available materials such as gypsum and cane. We are increasingly trying to incorporate more environmentally friendly building materials in the refurbishment of our existing buildings.

One of the responsibilities of the Maintenance Coordinator includes the supervision of volunteers who are willing to help with maintenance tasks, often with more enthusiasm than knowledge, as well as the application of clear Health and Safety standards. Larger projects require the assistance of local construction workers and must be coordinated.

This is a voluntary position with monthly remuneration and a minimum commitment of one year.

Main responsibilities:

- Assist and supervise volunteers in carrying out tasks.

- Maintenance and improvements to our buildings.

- General maintenance of roofs, floors, doors, etc.

- Plastering, painting and finishing with a lime wash.

- Supervision of tools and materials.

- Application of safety regulations.

- Instruction on the correct use of tools.

- Ensuring that unsafe tools are not used.

- Maintenance and repair of tools.

Requirements:

- Ability to lead and motivate volunteers, ranging from those with a lot of experience to those with little or no experience.

- Knowledge of construction, including plumbing repairs, plastering, painting, etc. (experience would be an asset).

- Tolerance of hard physical work in hot conditions.

- Ability to organise work schedules and work as part of a team.

- Speak Spanish and English.

Desirable skills:

- Experience in water heating systems or rainwater harvesting systems.

- Experience in green building techniques and materials.

- Experience in the use of power tools.

- Experience in plumbing.

To apply, please contact Tanguy at maintenance@sunseed.org.uk

Required skills:

Commitment to Sunseed’s vision, mission and goals
Commitment to environmental stewardship and social change
Willingness to share knowledge and ideas and encourage learning, teaching and community integration
Ability to give short talks and guided tours
Ability to be flexible, co-operative and welcoming to all visitors
Ability to provide mentoring for visitors and supervise their projects
Good communication skills, good Spanish and English

Desirable skills:

If over 25, a full driving license valid for driving in Spain
Interest in living off-grid in a sustainable way

Benefits

Vegetarian food

Locally sourced mostly organic food included

Paid holidays

24 days of paid holidays per year

Amenities

Internet, cosmetics, detergents, library, etc. provided

Scenic landscape

Unique location within a natural reserve with a natural pool

Coordinator

If you come directly as a coordinator the ideal will be to have 1 month of handover, during this month you will receive 130€ and 180€ for the next 5 months. If you don’t have a handover month, it will be 180€ from the first month.

✔️1 MONTH WITH HANDOVER – 130€/month

✔️2-6 MONTHS – 180€/month

✔️7-12 MONTHS – 210€/month

✔️13-18 MONTHS – 240€/month

✔️19+ MONTHS – 270€/month

The minimum commitment required for coordinators is 1 year. It will be considered on a case to case basis if a coordinator cannot commit for a full year.

Project Manager

Project managers are paid 300€/month. To be a project manager you must have previously been a department coordinator for a minimum of 6 months. If you have previously been an assistant or intern for 3 or more months or ESC, this time will be reduced to 3 months.

Project Managers will assume a coordinator position as well. The coordinator of any department can assume the role of project manager. If you take on the role of project manager you must have a 2 year commitment from the time you take on this role.

Committing to Sunseed

Living at Sunseed as a community member means more than simply doing your job well. You will be expected to balance environment, community and personal needs.

You will also be expected to take part fully in community life, relevant meetings and to assist in duties that are outside of your post like sharing communal duties such as cooking and cleaning as well as setting a good example in areas such as enthusiasm, safe practices, punctuality and socialising.

All staff members:

participate in the planning and implementation of tasks in their department and contribute to the overall longer-term strategic development of the project.
are responsible for supervising volunteers and implementing the Health and Safety guidelines in all activities (this is of utmost importance for staff involved in supervising unskilled volunteers in potentially hazardous situations).
are expected to follow and oversee Sunseed’s mission and policies (vegetarian, no-chemical), procedures (grievance) and agreements (communal).